Relay device



July 13, 1937. P, L, Em 2,087,216

RELAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 31, 193

Patented July 1 3,: 1937 I PATENT OFF-ICE RELAY :oEvIoE Paul L Em, Baltimore, Md, assignor to Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power Company of Baltimore, Baltimore, Md., a corporation oi Maryland Application August 31, 1934, Serial No. 742,335

17 Claims.

This invention relat ts to relay devices and more particularly to relay devices wherein the operation of the relay contacts is delayed for a predetermined period after current is first supplied to said relay. Devices embodying the invention may be used for various purposes, and r for purposes of illustration a device is hereinafter described'for use with a gas heater but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular application.

It has been proposed to ignite gas burners for water heaters and the like by means of electric pilotscomprising devices heated-electrically to a I temperature suflicient to ignite the gas. Insuch devices it is desirable that the gas supply to the burner'shall not be turned on until the electric pilot device has been heated to the requisite temperature toignite the gas, and a relay device embodying the invention can be employed for this purpose in combination with a suitable electric pilot device and an electrically operated valve controlling the gas supply. Electric pilot devices, and also electrically operated valves such as solenoid valves opened by energiz'ation of a solenoid and closedby gravity when the solenoid is de-energized, areknown and can be obtained on the market and hence will specifically herein. I

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel relay device-wherein a time delay or lag is introducedbetween the energization of the relay and the operation of the relay contacts. Another object is to provide a relay device of the type characterized that is dependable in operation and is of suchconstruction that failure of any of its electrical circuits or of the power supply will result in a return of the relay contacts to the de-energ'ized position of the rethe type characterized that is of rugged construction, simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture. x A further object is to provide a novel metallic structureproviding a supporting frame and a magnetic path for relay devices of the type charte l f- I I i J A still'further object is to provide a relay device wherein the armature that operates'the relay contacts is not actuated by'the magnetic field until an. auxiliary time-delay .device operates to efiect initialmovement of the arma- .t I Another object is to provide a device-oi the 'type c-haracterized wherein an electrically heated deviceis employed to bring the relay device into operation after current is supplied thereto .whereupon said device is automatically de-ener-' not be described These and other objects will appear more fully hereinafter as the description proceeds.

Two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawing but it is to be expressly understood that said drawing is .ior purposes of illustration only and is not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had 1; the appended claims for this purpose.

in said drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2-3 shows a metallic element which may be bent into a desired form for the magnetic cir-= cult of the device;

Fig. l is a Wiring diagram of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. is a wiring diagram of another device embodying the invention.

While as respects many aspects of the invention the. metallic structure of the device may have any suitable or desired form, Figs. 1 and 3 illustrate a simple but efficient and practical means .ior forming this structure. Fig; 3 illus'- trates a metallic blank cut to the particular configuration shown which includes the three platelike portions i connected by intermediate strips or necks 2 each of which is provided with an opening 3, preferably circular in form. This blank may be formed into the desired metallic structure by bending on the dotted lines 4 into the shape shown in Fig. 1 wherein the plates i constitute spaced parallel sides that are connected by top and bottom necks 2 having the aligned openings 3. After the device has been completely assembled as hereinafter described, the two adjacent plates i may be secured togethe in any. suitable manner as by riveting. v

'Referringnow to Figs. 1 and 2, the magnet coil or winding 5 is formed on a tube 6 of suitable non-magneticmaterial, the length of the winding being less than that of the tube 6 and the winding being locatedclosely adjacent one end of the tube. The holes 3 in the necks 2 are of suflicient size to permit the insertion of the tubes. After the coil 5 has been placed on the tube 6, and before the metallic blankis iormed as shown in Fig. l, the longer unobstructed end of the tube is inserted in the opening 3 of the lower neck 2 and then the blank is. formed about the tube as described above, the upper end of the-tube being inserted in the opening 3 of the upper neck during the fonning operation. The tube 6 may be secured in the openings 3 in any suitable way, if desired, as by a force fit.

Within the tube 6 is an armature 'l. of suitable magnetic material and of cylindrical shape as shown in .the drawing. The armature.-'l. is secured in any suitable manner to a rod 8 of suitable non-magnetic material which extends throughout the tube 8 and projects from the ends thereof, said rod passing through openingsin 5 stop and guide members 8 and I0 that are se- 10 the members 8 and Hi to prevent binding or stickcured in the ends of the tube 6 in any suitable manner as by means of set screws i I. The armature I and rod 8 are thus free to move as a unit in the tube 6, such movement being guided by ing of the armature on the tube wall. The limits of movement of the armature can be adjusted by suitable projections on-the rod 8 which as shown comprise stop nuts i2 and I8 threaded on said rod and adjustable thereon.

Suitable contact making-andbreaking means are provided for actuation by the operating rod 8 on movement of the armature I, and such means are preferably mounted at one end of the frame bymeans of a block I4 oiflany suitable material which is secured between the side plates- I let the frame by means of screws ii. In the form shown, the relay is provided with. apair of normally closed contacts i8, I1 and a pair of normally open contacts l8, IS. *The contacts l8,

H are carried respectively by resilient conductive strips 20 and 2| of any'suitable material'which are mounted on the block "in any suitable way as by clamping the same between said block and additional clamping blocks 22, which are secured to the block I I by means of screws 28. The normally open contacts I8, [8 are respectively carried by resilient conductive strips 24 ,and 25 r which are mounted on the block il in the same manner as the strips 20, 2|. The strip 24 is provided with a yoke 26 which straddles the operating rod 8 and with a finger 21 which normally bears on the strip M and maintains contacts l8, I! closed. It will be seen that the contacts I8,

40 i1 will be opened and the contacts l8, is will be closed by upward movement of the armature I and rod 8, said rod being provided with suitable means for engaging and lifting the yoke 28 which in the form shown comprises the stop 5 nut l8.

The armature] is shown in Fig. 2 in the position which it assumes when the device is deenergized and in this position the armature does not project suiiiciently within the coil 5 for ac-.

tuation by the magneticfield generated by said coil. Any suitable means may be provided whereby the armature tends to assume this position, but when the device is so positioned that the armature moves vertically as shown in the drawing, gravity alone will ordinarily suflice to insure that the armature always returns to the position shown when the coil is de-energized and that the contacts always assume the condition shown in Fig. 2. Hence when the current is sup- 0 plied "to the coil 5, the relay will not operate and in accordance with the invention an auxiliary device having time-delayed operation is provided for moving said armature initially from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the range where- 5 in it can be actuated by the magnetic field of the magnet coil. While from many aspects of the invention any suitable type of time-delayed device may be employed for this purpose, thecult with relay contacts which are opened by movement of the armature and by connecting this circuit in parallel with the electromagnet I winding. As shown, thistemperatur responsive.

element comprises a bimetallic strip 28 surrounded by aheating coil 28 and mounted on the frame in'any suitable manner as by means of a blockjil secured between the sideplates l by means of screws 8|. The end of the bimetallic strip is fastened to the block 80 by screws 82 and the strip is so arranged that on heating its forked end 88 will rise to engage an adjustable abutment such as a nut 84 on the rod 8 and. thereby to lift thearmature 1 sufllciently that it comes within the range of actuation by the magnetic field.

Fig. 4 illustrates a wiring arrangement of the device which is suitable for the purpose mentioned above of controlling the operation of a,

gas water heater having an electric pilot device. Current issupplied to the relay terminals 88, 88 and the heating circuit including in series the coil 28 andthe normally closed relay con-. tacts l8, I1 is connected across said terminals in parallel with the electromagnet coil. .A wire 81 leads from terminal 85, to which one end of said heating circuit is connected, to the coil} of the electromagnet and'a wire 88 leads from the other end of the coil to one of a pair of terminals 88 across which is connected :3, suitable electric ignition device indicated diagrammatically at 40. The other terminal 89 is connected to terminal 88 by a wire 4| whereby both the coil 8 and the pilot device 40 are energized as soon as and as long'as current is supplied to the relay.

The heating circuit is completed to the terminal 86 by connecting the end of the heating coil 28 to any desired point in the circuit from the coil 5 to the terminal 86. The normally open relay contacts l8, is may be used to control an external energizing circuit (not shown) such as the circuit of the electrically operated gas supply valve referred to above.

I Because the armature I occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 when current is first supplied to the relay, said armature is not lifted by energization of coil 5 and hence contacts i8, i 8 are not closed to open'the gas supply to the-burner. Heating coil 28 is energized simultaneously with magnet coil 5, however, and as soon as the bimetallic strip has been heated sufllciently, the

armature I will be liite iby the strip suiilciently to bring it within the ngeof actuation by the magnetic field of the coil 5 whereupon the armature will be drawn upwardly by said magnetic field until the stop nut l2 engages the stop member 9. During this movement of the armature, the stop nut l8 engages yoke 26 with the result that contacts l8, I! are closed to open the gas supply to the main burner whereas contacts l8, "are opened to de-energize the heating coil 28. The armature I, however, is held in its upper position by the magnetic field of the coil 8 until the relay is de-energized, whereupon it returns by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby I restoring the relay contacts to their initial position ready for a further operation.

Instead of supplementing the magnetic field,

ings, as for example to shunt a winding opposed to the coil 5 or to energize a winding assisting the coil 8. For example, a supplementary magneti field may be established by the operation of a suitable time-delay device, the combined fields being suflicient to move the armature initially. The movement of the armature may then be employed to effect the ,de-energization of the supplementary field. The supplementary winding may be separate from or mounted with the main coil 5 described above, and the movement of the strip 28 may be employed to close suitable contacts in the circuit of the supplementary winding, the heating circuit for the strip 28 being preferably established in parallel with the coil 5 as above described.

Fig. 5 is ,a diagram of an arrangement of this type which is generally similar to Fig. 4, corresponding numerals being used'to designate corresponding elements. Fig. 5 also includes, however, a supplementary winding or coil 42 in shunt with'the coil 5, and a pair of normally open contacts 43, 44 in series with said supplementary winding 42. Heating of the strip 28,

which is arranged to operate contacts 43, 44 instead of tolift the armature, causes the strip to bend and close said contacts whereby the supplementary winding 42 is energized. The-armature is normally in the position shown in Fig. 2 beyond the range of actuation of the coil 5. Hence the armature will not be moved when current is first supplied to the relay, but when the magnetic field is strengthened by the energization of the supplementary winding, the combinedfield is sufiicient to lift the armature and operate the contacts l6, H and H3, 89 as above described. The strip 28 then cools off and contacts 43, 44 separate, the supplementary winding being thereby de-energized but the armature being held in advanced position by the field of the coil 5.

It will be seen that the relay described above interposes a time delay or lag between the time when current is first supplied thereto and the time of actuation of the armature to change the condition of the relay contacts. As described above, this time delay can be utilized to insure that the electric pilot device is heated to a temperature sufiicient to ignite the gas before the gas supply is turned on. It Will further be understood, however, that this operation constitutes only one of the many uses to which the device can be put. The device is simple and inexpensive but at the same time of rugged construction and. reliable in operation, requiring no skilledlabor for installation and maintenance. Further, no delicate adjustments are involved so that the likelihood of the device getting out of order is reduced to a minimum.

While several embodiments of the invention departing from the spirit of the invention.

Other methods for initiating theimovement of therelay armature, involving further arrangements of windings and contacts for controlling the same, will also readily occurto those skilled in the art and'are included within the spirit and scope of the. invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a relay, the combination of' a contact making and breaking device, an electromagnet having a movable armature for operating said device, said armature occupying a position when the relay is de-energized in which it cannot be actuated by the magnetic field, a temperatureresponsive element heated when the relay is energized for moving said armature to a position where it is actuated bythe magnetic field of said electromagnet, and electrical heating means for said element connected in parallel with said electromagnet, said parallel circuit including normally closed relay contacts which are opened on movement of said armature by the magnetic field.

2. In a relay, a contact making and breaking device, an electromagnet having an armature movable axially of the magnet coil for operating said device, said armature occupying a position when the relay is de-energized wherein it cannot be actuated by the magnetic field, a temperature-responsive element for moving said armature initially into the range of actuation by said electromagnet, electrical heating means for said element, and a circuit for energizing said heating means upon energization of said electromagnet and de-energizing said heating means upon operation of said device.

3. In a relay, a contact making and breaking device, an electromagnet having an armature movable exially of the magnet coil for operating said device, said armature occupying a position when the relay is deenergized wherein it cannot be actuated by the magnetic field, a temperature-responsive element for moving said armature initially into the range of actuation by said electromagnet, and electrically heating means for said element, said heating means being connected in parallel with said electromagnet and said parallel circuit including relay contacts which are opened on movement of said armature by said magnetic field.

4. In a relay, the combination of a contact making and breaking device, an electromagnet having a coil, an armature for operating said device, said armature being movable axially of said coil and tending to occupy by gravity a position in which it cannot be actuated by the magnetic field, a bimetallic strip for moving said armature to a position wit in' its range of actuation by the magnetic fielg, and a coil for heating said strip, the energizin circuit of said coil including normally closed relay contacts which are opened when the armature is actuated by the magnetic field.

5. In a relay device of the class described, the combination of a frame, a solenoid coil mounted vertically thereon. an armature having a lowermost position beyond the-range of actuation by the magnetic field, a bimetallic strip operatively connected With said armature to lift the same into said range, a heating coil, for said strip, the energizing circuit for said coil including normally closed relay contacts, a pair of normally open relay contacts, and contact operating means actuated by movement of said armature within said range to open said closed contacts and to close said open contacts.

6. In a relay device of the class described, the combination of a magnetic circuit comprising spaced parallel side plates, a solenoid coil disposed within saidplates. an armature having a lowermost position beyond the range of actuation by the magnetic field, a bimetallic strip mounted between said plates and operatively connected with said armature to lift the same into said range, a heating coil for said. strip,

the energizing circuit for saidlcoil including normally closed contacts, a pair of normally'open contacts, said contacts being mounted between said plates, and contact operating means connected to said armature.

'7. In a relay, the combination of a contact making and breaking device, an electromagnet having a movable armature for operating said device and tending to occupy a position wherein it cannot be actuated by the magnetic field, a.

supplementary electromagnetic means operative to cause initial movement of said armature into the range of actuation by said electromagnet, an'itemperature-responsive means for controlling the circuit of said supplementary means.

8. In a relay, the combination of a contact making and breaking device, an electromagnet having a movable armature for operating said device and tending to occupy a position wherein it cannot be actuated by the magnetic field, a,

supplementary electromagnetic means operative to cause initial movement of said armature into the range of actuation by said electromagnet, a

temperature-responsive device controlling the circuit of said supplementary means, and electrical heating means for saidtemperature-responsive device.

9. In a relay, a contact making and breaking device, an electromagnet having an armature movable axially of the magnet coil for operating said device, said armature occupying a position when the relay is de energized wherein it cannot be actuated by the field of said electromagnet, a supplementary electromagnetic means operative to cause initial movement of said armature into the range of actuation by said electrcmagnet, and temperaturesresponsive means for controlling the circuit of said supplementary means.

10. In a relay, a contact making and breakingdevice, an electromagnet having an armature movable axially of the magnet coil for operating said device, said armature occupying a position when the relay is de-energized wherein it cannot be actuated by the field of said electromagnet, a supplementary electromagnetic means operative to cause initial movement of said armature into the range of actuation by said electromagnet, a temperatu e-responsive device controlling the circuit of said supplementary means, and electrical heating means for said temperature-responsive device, said heating means being connected in parallel with said electromagnet and said parallel circuit including relay contacts which are opened by movement of said armature.

12. In a relay, a contact making and breaking device, an electromagnet having an armature movable axially of the magnet coil for operating said device, said armature occupying a position when the relay is de-ener'gized wherein it cannot be actuated by the field of said electromagnet, a supplementary electromagnetic means operative to cause initial movement of said armatureinto the range of/actuation by said electromagnet, a temperature-responsive device controlling the circuit of said supplementary means, and electrical heating means for, said temperature-responsive device, said heating 'means being connected in parallel with said electromagnet and said parallel circuit including relay contacts which are opened by movement of said armature, said supplementary means also being connected inparallel with said electromagnet ina circuit including relay contacts operated by said temperature-responsive device,

. l3. Ina relay, a contact making and breaking device, an armature for operating said device; an electromagnet, said armature occupying a position when the relay is deenergized wherein it cannot be actuated by said electromagnet, means having time-delayed operation for supplementing the action of said electromagnet to cause initial movement of said armature into the range of actuation by said electromagnet, anda relay circuit for energizing said means and including a make and break device operated by said armature.

14. In' a relay, a'pair of contacts, an electrocircuit including normally closed contacts tor energizing said means, said normally closed contacts beingadapted to be opened on movement of said armature and said means having timedelayed operation.

15. In a relay, the combination of a. pair contacts, an electromagnet having an armature for closing said contacts and tending to occupy a position in which it cannot be actuated by the magnetic field,temperature-responsive means operative to cause initial movement of said armature into the range of actuation by said electromagnet, an electric heating element for said means, and a pair of normally closed contacts in circuit with said element and adapted to be opened by said armature..

16. In a relay, the combination of a make and break device, an electromagnet, a movable armature for operating said device and tending to occupy aposition in which it cannot be actuated by themagnetic field, supplementary electrical means having time-delayed operation for causing initial movement of said armature into the range of actuation by said electromagnet, and a. relay circuit for said supplementary means that is independent of saidmake and break device.

17 In a relay, the combination of a make and break device, an electromagnet, a movable armature for operating said device and tending to occupy a position in which it cannot be actuated by the magnetic field, means having time-delayed operation for causinginitial movement of said armature into the range or actuation by said electromagnet, and a relay circuit for said supplementary means that is in parallel with said electromagnet,

PAUL L. BETZ.

supplementary electrical. 

